Malaysian minister meets MH370 relatives' group in Perth

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Malaysia's transport minister Liow Tiong Lai speaks at a news conference about debris found on a beach in Mozambique that may be from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 3, 2016. REUTERS/Olivia Harris

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Malaysia’s transport minister on Monday met a group representing families of passengers from missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in Perth, after being lobbied by relatives of those lost when the plane vanished in 2014.

The Voice370 group said on Sunday it would deliver personal letters to Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai, asking him to resume the search that was called off last week.

“I will be receiving their letter today ... we hope that we can have a good discussion,” Liow told reporters in the Western Australian state capital Perth on Monday.

The Boeing 777 jet disappeared in March 2014 en route to Beijing from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, with 239 people on board, sparking one of the world’s great aviation mysteries.

Sheryl Keen, from Aircrash Support Group Australia, which represents Australian victims, handed about 100 letters to Liow at what she said was a “positive meeting,” adding that he showed interest in continuing investigations into the missing jet.

Joined in Perth by counterparts from China and Australia to welcome ashore crew members from the returned Fugro Equator search vessel, Liow reiterated that the underwater search would only be restarted if “credible new evidence” of the plane’s whereabouts was discovered.

“We will continue to work on the debris ... we are committed to continue with the search for the debris, and from today on we hope we can get more credible evidence,” Liow told a news conference on the dock where the last search vessel is now moored after ending its voyage.